serious aversion to cleaning...

[sarahsarahsarah11]

So... I have this serious aversion to cleaning.. I'm sure many people don't like to clean, but I have a serious aversion to it, especially cleaning the bathrooms... So I'll put it off until I absolutely HAVE to clean, and then once I start doing it, I finish it in like 20 minutes and everything's clean and I'm very happy and then I realize it wasn' hard at all, and then I start the cycle all over again...

I WASTE A LOT OF TIME procrastinating before cleaning... like a lot of lot of time... and just not living in a clean environment really affects my mood, my organization, and my well-being in general.... I've had this issue for a long time, any advice on just GETTING MYSELF to get started?

[SomebodySomewhere]

More discipline.

[Matthew Shea]

Personally, I don't like cleaning either, but I do it because I enjoy the result. So, first of all, stop focusing on the task and keep the result you want in mind.

Second, stop looking at the whole cleaning project and focus on individual, small tasks. In other words, instead of "Oh my gawd, look at what a mess this kitchen is", think "#1: get the dishwasher unloaded", then just do it. Then think "#2: move the dirty dishes to the dishwasher" then just do it, etc.

Those are the two key things I do.

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Originally Posted by Matthew Shea

Second, stop looking at the whole cleaning project and focus on individual, small tasks.

That's a good idea. I'd even go so far as to do one little bit each day. For instance, one day I'd clean the toilet. The next I'd do the tub. Next the mirror and sink. If each task takes about 2-5 minutes it doesn't seem like much.

Although I really like to clean. I get a big feeling of accomplishment from it for very little effort.

Another idea would be to hire someone to come once a week or once every couple of weeks to do the major cleaning. It doesn't have to be really expensive from what I understand.

[Kaspian]

What if you focus more on the good feelings you will have once things are clean and use the memory of those good feelings to inspire you to get started?


You might also consider looking at where the aversion comes from. For a long time I had a lot of resistance to cleaning the bathroom and sweeping/mopping the floor. When I was young, those were my assigned household chores. On "cleaning day," I'd do those chores, and when I finished, often Mom's first reaction was to point out the spots I had missed. Not a "thanks," not a "good job," but instead, "You forgot to wipe behind the toilet, and you didn't sweep the corner under the table."

As an adult, I realized that as I worked, I was criticizing myself the way she had, so I gave myself permission to do an incomplete job. Maybe I'll only clean the sink or tub. Maybe I'll only do a quick sweep of the most trafficked parts of the floor. Maybe I'll thoroughly clean it all. It's my choice, though, and I'm free of the critical voice that took all the fun out of making my space a wonderful place to be.

[uberinquisitive]

Originally Posted by sarahsarahsarah11

So... I have this serious aversion to cleaning.

I used to be the SAME exact way.

My core issue: my mother would force me to clean, and it was never good enough. If I washed dishes, then it wouldn't be the way SHE wanted it done. If I cleaned the bathroom, she's always find one extra thing I could have done better.

Once I realized this issue, I stopped having the resistance towards cleaning.

And then, the next few years, I gradually found ways to make cleaning enjoyable. I love pretty products that smell and look nice - like Method cleaners.

I also found a lot of shortcuts - use Mr. Clean magic eraser to clean sink (it takes like 30 seconds to clean the sink itself and the area around it), those chlorox disposable toilet cleaner pads, etc.

After a while, I started to enjoy cleaning. It made me feel like a domestic goddess. In fact, now I do the dishes several times a day because I love how clean my hands feel afterwards!

[Rockchick26]

Originally Posted by sarahsarahsarah11

So... I have this serious aversion to cleaning.. I'm sure many people don't like to clean, but I have a serious aversion to it, especially cleaning the bathrooms... So I'll put it off until I absolutely HAVE to clean, and then once I start doing it, I finish it in like 20 minutes and everything's clean and I'm very happy and then I realize it wasn' hard at all, and then I start the cycle all over again...

I WASTE A LOT OF TIME procrastinating before cleaning... like a lot of lot of time... and just not living in a clean environment really affects my mood, my organization, and my well-being in general.... I've had this issue for a long time, any advice on just GETTING MYSELF to get started?

I am EXACTLY the same way! I have been in my apartment for 6 months now and i honestly think i've only cleaned my bathroom 3 times LOL But maybe its not something you need to change,i mean it isnt hurting anyone,and as long as you do it SOMETIME,who cares how often. If cleaning isnt enjoyable (even while listening to music,its hard to enjoy it,for me) then don't force yourself to try to enjoy it.

I never understood why people clean every day. I never understood "its Saturday,i have to clean the house" what?! Sure if company is coming over or if you havent done it in a month or two,but why do it if you dont REALLY have to? I admit i'm a procrastinator but my bills get paid,what NEEDS to be done gets done on time,i just enjoy my time as much as i can and i save the less desirable things for when they absolutely must get done. I say keep on doing what youre doing,cleaning is not that important in the grand scheme of things. And besides,if you clean every day or every week even,you dont get exposed to things that your body needs to get exposed to in order to fight off stuff. If you live in a sterile environment that is sooo not good!

[Angela]

Originally Posted by sarahsarahsarah11

...So I'll put it off until I absolutely HAVE to clean....

Is it true that you absolutely HAVE to clean? Does someone show up with a gun, threatening to take away your children if you don't clean? Is it not a choice? What is the trigger for you that tells you that you absolutely HAVE to clean?

[Tigerlilly]

Actually I really like to clean up; with some music in the background I think it can be good fun. The trick is to really get into it and not think about anything else while you're at it.

Before I had a place of my own I hated cleaning up as well, mainly cause my Mom would insist on it, and write "pig" on any spot of dust she could find in my room. I think if you feel pressured to do something you naturally resist it.

But with my own place to look after I like my stuff in order, I get dragged down if my place looks cluttered or untidy. On the other hand, if all looks shipshape, I relax and feel great.

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Man, y'all have some cruel parents.

[Tuumble]

I wrote an article on cleaning a while back. Just another view on this most tiresome of pastimes...

How do you feel about chores in the home? Are they just part of life and just accept them as something in your daily routine? Do you get irritated and stressed at having to do them regularly especially if other members of the household are not pulling their weight? Do you detest them and will do anything in your power to avoid them?

For some people the act of cleaning is therapeutic and provides an enormous sense of satisfaction to have a home to be proud of. However, these people are often on edge when visitors enter the home as the fear that standards can drop drop very rapidly.

The key is to just keep on top of the work that needs doing. If you complete the essentials and don't postpone them indefinitely the problem will always be manageable. The danger is that once you reach the point where the work that needs doing is overwhelming you have no inclination to do any work at all.

We all look on chores in different ways but for those who don't always have a duster in their hands, there are some interesting questions that arise...

• If we are expecting visitors, why is it that we strive to make our home look more attractive for the benefit of someone else and not us?
• Why didn't spend the time doing the chores anyway when our home is supposed to be our place of sanctuary and security?
• In any case, why are we concerned what others may think of us when how we live our lives is of no business of anyone but our ourselves?

When in the process of selling our homes for instance, we can become fastidious when we really have to. We can go completely overboard and clean to a standard that we wouldn't normally dream of if it was for us personally.

There are a couple of reasons for this. First of all we want our property to be seen in the best possible light which will increase the likelihood of a sale. Secondly, we want the people that come into our homes to look favorably on us even though they are strangers - no-one wants others to think that we live in stinking squalor. Therefore we set too into making the home look the best we can muster...well, some of us do.

It's the same if you sell your car. You get the wax polish out and you vacuum in every nook and cranny to make it spotless but you rarely, if ever, do it for yourself.

I have noticed how much calmer we are as a family when we recognize the effort we have collectively put in to make our home a place of which to be proud. It's also very rewarding to know that we won't have depression thrust upon us when walking into a room because there's a load of chores to do.

We are also safe in the knowledge that should anyone turn up without warning we can welcome them in with open arms rather than direct them to a place in the house that causes the least embarrassment.

There are always things we can be doing but to have no washing up to do, carpets to be cleaned, dusting to be done, or clothes to be ironed and put away is a joy unconfined.

It just depends how much you want it and how much pain you attach to doing the work as opposed to living in chaos. It's up to you.

[m0vingon]

Maybe you could check out Flylady
It's a rather unconventional way of making "cleaning" a habit. I'm a pretty hit or miss housekeeper but I must admit that using her system of doing little things daily keeps things in order with minimal effort.

[Dannyboy1]

Have two boards of pictures. One with your apartment messy and one with your apartment immaculate. When your place is a mess, put up the board of pictures of the immaculate version to remind you how good you'll feel when it's clean. When your apartment is clean, put up the board with the messy apartment to remind you how bad you'll feel if you don't keep up on the cleaning.

[dali]

start in a corner. space the size of a big tile. clean it. perfectly. move through the room like that. observe the transformation you have made. after a reasonable amount has been done take a break, have a drink, look with pride at what you have done. sing. whistle. talk to the things you are cleaning. you are a bath, you have held me while i am washing myself now i am washing you with thanks, etc. dont just CLEAN. WASH EACH THING WITH CARE AND ATTENTION . Thank each thing for its service to you. Think about what it is made of, who made it, its story, and how it has come to be in your life.That way you are not just cleaning for the sake of it and you are not letting old resentments get in the way. you said you like the feeling when its done. what the hecks the point in doing anything if you have to wait till its done to like the feeling? bad marriages are like that I hear!!! get INTO it. I think some people call it Mindfullness. Otherwise sit and enjoy not doing it. I hope this helps. It can be fun. Try it with a dish one night. Really wash the dish like you were washing a baby. Its magical. and remember God is in the toiletbowl so wash her with joy.